Do you think a new hard-drive will fix this error message??

[CallylovesShane]

When I try to turn on my laptop the screen goes black & it gives me this error message:

"Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM.
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair."

Well the CD-ROM drive on my computer does not work & I don't have the CD-ROM anyways as I bought the computer used, but if I just got a brand new internal hard-drive would this problem fix itself?

And if not how can I fix it?

(by the way I am using my desktop computer right now because I cannot access ANYTHING on my laptop.)

All answers will be appreciated!

Cally -- HELP ME PLEASE!! :]

 

[Davetoo]

No, because the new hard drive will not come with an operating system. You need to fix the OS on the system or install a fresh copy of it.

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

There are no more PDC's! There are DC's with FSMO roles!

 

[CallylovesShane]

How can I fix the OS with out a disk & the CD-ROM drive being broken?

I mean without the CD-ROM I can't very well install the OS and since I cannot get to anything but the black error screen I can't install a new CD-ROM drive.. so I am pretty much screwed right?

Or do you know of any way i can hook my laptop to my desktop & send the missing file to my laptop?

OMG I am so confused! LOL!


Cally -- CHECK OUT MY THREAD! I COULD USE THE HELP! :]

http://www.tek-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=779

-- THANKS!!

 

[Davetoo]

The simplest and most straight forward solution is to replace the CD and purchase a new copy of the OS. You don't need to install a CD ROM as there will only be one type that will work on your system.

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

There are no more PDC's! There are DC's with FSMO roles!

 

[CLJBville]

You can install a new CD ROM and the computer will recognize it. As for the XP CD, hopefully your PC has the Microsoft XP license sticker on the case. If it does, just try to find a friend with the same version of XP and borrow their CD. If the key code on the sticker says XP Home then it should work with a friends XP Home CD. However, if you are just doing a repair, you don't need the code, just a CD. If you have to reinstall the Windows XP then you need both the code and the CD. Hope this helps. - Chris

 

[archwayguy]

Well... Can you at least access the command prompt via safe mode? If so you can try the old chkdsk /p and fixboot commands.

As to the CD-ROM, it's just hardware. If you get a new one because yours is broken, and you just plug it in... the BIOS should recognize it and it will be accessible right away as long as it's the same type as the old.

You can also see if your bios has a bootable usb device option and set it to that, then configure a usb drive on your desktop to be bootable to command prompt, then just plug it in the laptop and turn it on.

 

[archwayguy]

Oh you know, I just thought of something. That's a corrupt registry message, not a boot sector problem. You need to get into the recovery console or command prompt so you can delete those and restore from it's backup location that Windows keeps.

 

[archwayguy]

Details on how to do so and which files are found here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

 

[CallylovesShane]

You can install a new CD ROM and the computer will recognize it. As for the XP CD, hopefully your PC has the Microsoft XP license sticker on the case. If it does, just try to find a friend with the same version of XP and borrow their CD. If the key code on the sticker says XP Home then it should work with a friends XP Home CD. However, if you are just doing a repair, you don't need the code, just a CD. If you have to reinstall the Windows XP then you need both the code and the CD. Hope this helps. - Chris

Well the laptop was refurbished & upgraded from windows 98 to windows xp pro, but i had planned on putting vista on it. Nobody I know has Xp pro so could I do this(buy vista) & just install it on there instead of finding a disk for Xp pro?

Cally -- CHECK OUT MY THREAD! I COULD USE THE HELP! :]

http://www.tek-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=779

-- THANKS!!

 

[archwayguy]

I believe you would still be able to get to the recovery console command prompt to fix the registry with any xp install cd, no matter the version (home/xp/mc). I would also recommend fixing the problem and not "upgrading" to Vista.

 

[CallylovesShane]

Well... Can you at least access the command prompt via safe mode? If so you can try the old chkdsk /p and fixboot commands.

As to the CD-ROM, it's just hardware. If you get a new one because yours is broken, and you just plug it in... the BIOS should recognize it and it will be accessible right away as long as it's the same type as the old.

You can also see if your bios has a bootable usb device option and set it to that, then configure a usb drive on your desktop to be bootable to command prompt, then just plug it in the laptop and turn it on.

It wont let me access ANYTHING.. as soon as i press the power button it goes to a black screen & give the error message, and if I press a button it restarts & goes right back to the error message.

Oh you know, I just thought of something. That's a corrupt registry message, not a boot sector problem. You need to get into the recovery console or command prompt so you can delete those and restore from it's backup location that Windows keeps.

How do i do that? It won't let me do anything.

Details on how to do so and which files are found here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

Yeah I actually have been here & I went to download the Guided Help but it wouldn't on my computer because "You must be running Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Media Center Edition, or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition to install and to use this Guided Help." And I am running sp2. And it said you have to have a disk. So I came here.

Cally -- CHECK OUT MY THREAD! I COULD USE THE HELP! :]

http://www.tek-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=779

-- THANKS!!

 

[archwayguy]

Ok, so you have a corrupt SYSTEM registry and no boot disk, no xp install cd of any sort, and a bad cd drive?

 

[CallylovesShane]

I believe you would still be able to get to the recovery console command prompt to fix the registry with any xp install cd, no matter the version (home/xp/mc). I would also recommend fixing the problem and not "upgrading" to Vista.

Okay well I will try this if it doesn't work then I will be back. Thanks sooooo much I really appreciate it!!!




Cally -- CHECK OUT MY THREAD! I COULD USE THE HELP! :]

http://www.tek-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=779

-- THANKS!!

 

[CallylovesShane]

Ok, so you have a corrupt SYSTEM registry and no boot disk, no xp install cd of any sort, and a bad cd drive?

LOL! Well i have a XpSp1 installation cd(if that will work as a boot disk) but yeah the rest is right.

Cally -- CHECK OUT MY THREAD! I COULD USE THE HELP! :]

http://www.tek-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=779

-- THANKS!!

 

[archwayguy]

1. Check the BIOS on the laptop and see if it supports booting from USB or Removeable Media.
2. If yes to above, get a USB flash drive.
3. Plug USB drive into your desktop and goto My Computer.
4. Right click your USB drive>Choose properties>Mark Create an MS-DOS System Disk>Click Format. Or Start>Run>cmd at command prompt type "format x: /s" (where x is your usb drive letter and off course without quote). Option /s is to make DOS system file.
5. Plug in to laptop and set BIOS to boot from it.
6. Proceed with steps here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

 

[linney]

Hopefully your laptop is old enough to still be blessed with a working flippy drive?

If it is read on as your original error can be fixed via the Recovery Console.

You may have to download files from Microsoft to put onto Floppies to achieve this if you have no CD.

310994 - Obtaining Windows XP Setup Boot Disks

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310994&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

You will have some access if you can load the XP Recovery Console onto the machine.


Once you have the Recovery Console loaded you may proceed with this fix for your original error message.

See this.

An easy to follow recovery console description when unable to start computer due to corrupt registry.

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

This is a layman's version of Q307545 in simple language.